“Can macular degeneration cause blindness?”
My 80-year-old aunt was diagnosed with macular degeneration very recently. Is it possible that she might become blind from this? Her doctor is having her take vitamins and supplements to reduce its progression.
11 Answers
It is possible to loss your central vision from macular degeneration, she will not loss her peripheral vision from ARMD. See an ophthalmologist.
Yes macular degeneration CAN but does not always lead to legal blindness.
In its most severe form, macular degeneration can lead to loss of central, not peripheral, vision. This of course, can be quite debilitating. There are treatments and preventive measures, however. Continued care with your ophthalmologist is recommended.
Macular Degeneration is "age related" and is the leading cause of blindness over age 50. Usually, there is a family history. Certain lifestyle choices increase the risk of vision loss and certain one's decrease the risk. Smoking increases the risk of vision loss 8x, eating green leafy vegetables decreases the risk, taking an AMD vitamin reduces the risk...
Yes, and no. Macular degeneration damages the macula, the center of the eye where your best vision is located. When you want to look at something, you point your macula at it.
Advanced macular degeneration can damage the central vision in the eye, making it difficult to read, sew, or drive. If bad enough, it can cause legal blindness.
Most patients with macular degeneration will retain some of their peripheral vision, which is lower quality than central vision. It is rare for a patient with macular degeneration to become totally blind and see complete blackness.
Advanced macular degeneration can damage the central vision in the eye, making it difficult to read, sew, or drive. If bad enough, it can cause legal blindness.
Most patients with macular degeneration will retain some of their peripheral vision, which is lower quality than central vision. It is rare for a patient with macular degeneration to become totally blind and see complete blackness.
Yes, macular degeneration can cause blindness. Eye vitamins are important as our routine follow-up exams. If there is ever a large decrease in vision, then she should be checked urgently by a retina specialist.
Sincerely,
Sean Adrean MD, FAAO
Sincerely,
Sean Adrean MD, FAAO
Not total blindness, only central blindness, i.e., reading vision. Peripheral vision remains intact.
Dr. LMJ
Dr. LMJ
When macular degeneration is severe, people can lose the ability to see things straight ahead; they may no longer be able to recognize faces, read, etc, but they do not lose their peripheral vision from AMD. Nutritional supplements (using the AREDS2 formulation, easily found in the eye care section of a pharmacy or most supermarkets) can slow the progression of dry macular degeneration. If there is a sudden change in the vision, it may have have developed into the wet form; that should trigger an urgent return to her ophthalmologist.
It’s treatable! There are 2 types. Dry type is treated with AREDS vitamins. Wet type is treated with intravitreal injections.
Yes
You can lose the ability to see fine print, i.e., reading small print, signs, etc., but rarely does one go completely blind.
